#so I got the original LARGE generator w/trailer for the week

[amurih]

MY GENERATOR IS SO FUCKING QUIET!!!!!

[festfashions]

So long 2016!

2016 has come and gone and it has been an absolute blast! I welcomed 2016 at SnowGlobe Festival and knew from that moment that the rest of the year would be just as great for me.

To close out 2016, here’s a quick recap of every show I attended this year. I cannot believe I did so much, and I look forward to checking out just as many, if not more, in 2017! 

CONTROL Presents: Peking Duk, Coyote Kisses, Embody (The Avalon) This year was a tough one for me and Coyote Kisses. I’ll travel far and wide to see them, but they sometimes just don’t deliver like they used to. Their singles are some of my favorite songs ever, but they rarely mix them into their sets, which is a total shame. Coyote Kisses, my 2017 resolution for you is to mix more of your original content into your sets! This particular show was still a lot of fun, though. The Avalon is super cheap and I was able to convince such a large group of friends to go to the show--we had a great time! 

Beyond Wonderland So Cal An oldie but a goodie, this festival keeps me coming back and just when I was about to get bored they changed the theme. For 2017 the theme is “The Endless Sea”, which is offering some new trailers and I’m sure some fun new additions to the festival. I can’t wait to come up with an under the sea look for this one. Check out fashion photos from Beyond Wonderland 2016 here.

Bassrush Massive (Nos Events Center) I wish these shows weren’t so far away, cuz I love these events. Nothing like gathering with fellow bassheads at one show to share the love and dance together. One of my resolutions actually developed from this event--not get so drunk again. I totally almost missed out on Flux cuz I was throwing up in a trash can. Luckily I pulled myself together just in time. Check out fashion photos from Bassrush Massive here.

Ellie Goulding (Staples) Every once in a while it’s kind of nice to splurge on a big arena show like this one. A friend and I got floor tickets. We just loved singing along and dancing for an hour and half to one artist. It was a really fun night, and Ellie of course, puts on an amazing show. These shows are great for huge artists who's sets you want more of from Coachella.

Coachella I cannot believe I went to Coachella again. This festival costs way too much, but luckily my friends and I have it down to a science now, so it’s a lot less than the first time we went. For example, this year, we drove in and out instead of taking the shuttle and had a house a little further away from the festival. 100% worth it. Lots of great sets at Coachella this year, but also still lots of running around from stage to stage. Check out fashion photos from Coachella Weekend 1 here and Coachella Weekend 2 here.

Kaskade (LA Convention Center) The first rave event held at the Convention Center was a success. The space was huge and offered lots of room to dance. There was amazing lighting, and it was so cool to see such a big event that was all floor space (as opposed to an arena like Staples with seating) so close to home. I’m all for having more of these shows in downtown so we all don’t have to travel so far out of the city. Insomniac, my 2017 resolution for you is to put more of these on!

Rudimental & Gorgon City (Shrine) Rudimental is still one of my favorites. Their live shows are so much fun and have so much energy. Even if you don’t know their songs, their shows are sure to get everyone dancing. The Shrine as a venue isn’t too bad as well. It’s small enough to be intimate but big enough to still offer space and room to breath. 

Lightning In A Bottle This year at LIB I was able to be a bit more prepared for the marathon this festival truly is. I got more out of the little unique areas outside the main stages and explored the art, lectures, classes and micro environments. This left me feeling much more accomplished in one sense, but also like I missed so much in another. There’s just so much to do at LIB that you can’t possibly see it all, but I do think I did a great job this year seeing a lot of it and narrowing it down to the things I had interest in before hand. Some of my best and most popular photos came from LIB, and I cannot wait to see what creativity there is this year. Read the full event recap here. Check out fashion photos from LIB here.

Woogie Weekend This hidden gem in Orange County is such a nice little festival. Taking place in the park where Lightning in A Bottle first started, and by the same people, the festival has a lot of similar vibes, but on a smaller scale. I love this festival as a weekend getaway, and this year like last, I made some new friends (since I went alone) that I absolutely adore. One of the best parts about Woogie is the proximity of the camping to the festival grounds. Read the full event recap here. Check out fashion photos from Woogie here.

HARD Summer HARD Summer had its ups and downs, which is becoming standard at HARD events. The event was way too hot and the stages provided no coverage for people dancing in the heat all day. The venue was pretty terrible in general. That said, they of course had a strong lineup that delivered. I saw HARD did a show in Hawaii a few weeks ago and I wonder how that went. I’m curious if they’ll be back in LA this year. Read the full event recap here. Check out fashion photos from HARD here.

Corona Electric Beach Party w/ Matoma This was a small summer rooftop party, but literally the perfect way to catch Matoma. His music and vibes are perfect for a day pool party. Attending more of these pool parties is definitely on my list for next year. They’re reasonable in price and close to home! Check out my interview with Matoma from this year here.

Nocturnal Wonderland Nocturnal Wonderland is basically Beyond Wonderland a couple of months later and a bit bigger I’d say. We didn’t end up camping this one but drove in and out each day. That was kind of harsh, especially the drive in, and I’d much prefer to just stay there. The camping is pretty nice and organized and Insomniac has really stepped up the fun activities for campers. I fell in love with Autograf here, a saw them 2 more times after this before 2016 came to an end. Check out fashion photos from Nocturnal here.

Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival What can I say about this festival to make you see why it’s a cannot miss event? The location in Downtown Vegas using city blocks to create a big block party is an amazing location. The stages are set up wonderfully and the food, music, lectures, art are some of the best at any festival I’ve been to. It is a consistently good time, and IMO should replace Coachella as the premiere “music festival”. It has all genres covered and is the relaxed vibes of what I assume Coachella was like 15 years ago. Check out my full recap here. Check out fashion from LIB here.

Mad Decent Block Party (LA) I had wanted to go to MDBP for a while, but the weekends were always conflicting with something else. This year one friend and I finally checked it out and it was so much fun. We splurged for VIP tickets which was totally worth it. They were in actuality only about $30 more, and offered real restrooms, a separate bar and the easiest entry into a festival I’ve ever experience. Check out fashion photos from MDBP here.

Sia (Bowl) If you live in LA and haven’t been to the Hollywood Bowl yet for a show, shame on you! You’re totally missing out! My friends and I love buying the cheapest seats at the Bowl for events, and get to see some great shows for ticket prices of $25-$65 (depending on the event). It’s always easy to get to the Bowl from the metro too which is a big reason it’s so awesome. Sia’s show was absolutely beautiful. She stood in the corner of the stage and sang the whole time while her dancers (including Maddie from her videos) performed. It was really nice to see her here after we struggled to enjoy her set at Coachella due to the crowds.

ZHU (The Shrine) Back to the Shrine for a final time in 2016 for ZHU! ZHU puts on a great set that keeps you dancing the whole time. The way he mixes doesn’t allow for awkward lapses between songs but is the pinnacle of how dance music should be mixed at a show like this. 

Autograf & Goldroom (The Novo) What can I say, I already told you I fell in love with Autograf this year! This trio’s tropical sounds take you through a set that starts slow, moves to a solid dance vibe, then back down to a chill section to close the set. The Novo is a nice space I think, but most of their shows are not 21+ so they end pretty early. It is nice that younger people get to attend though! 

Voodoo Music & Art Experience Voodoo blew my mind this year. It’s the furthest I’ve traveled for a festival and I was not disappointed. What a cultural experience the South (can I call New Orleans the South?) was for me. The vibes of the attendees was unlike any festival I’ve been to ever. There were all ages, all genres of music and lots of Southern style food. I found my new loves (I know I’m late to the boat) Die Antwoord at Voodoo, and I plan on using Yolandi as inspiration for some of my festival looks next year. This event definitely inspired me to look further outside my bubble for new festivals/raves. Check out my event recap here. Check out fashion photos from Voodoo here.

Complex Con (Kid Cudi & Skrillex) This show was quite possibly a highlight of my year and was definitely the best stand alone show of 2016 for me. Skrillex might always hold my heart when it comes to my love for EDM and this whole scene. The messages he puts out about good vibes and fun times is everything I’m about. This show was absolutely amazing because a packed show for Kid Cudi closed and Skrillex came into to a venue that was empty with myself and a couple hundred Skrillex fans that were ready to party hard. His set was true to Skrillex’s sound with most of the songs being his own (and not mixing in too much Jack Ü for example) which was a nice change. There’s really so much I could gush about this show--Skrillex just kills it every time. 2017 goal is to finally interview him. Check out the full recap here. 

Vanic (The El Rey) Seeing Vanic again was a long time coming. I saw him live the first time at SnowGlobe 2015 and was obsessed. I’d been following his music for a while at that time but hadn’t had the chance to see him. After that I tried so many times to catch his set, but they were always too early in a festival for me to get my friends’ butts to move. Lucky for me he was doing a tour and I got to catch him at the El Rey. I took two friends, one who isn’t much of a music junkie, and all three of us had a blast. Beyond his own original tracks and mixes, Vanic mixes in some classic songs so that non-fans don’t feel left out. Mixing this way is a good idea for a newer DJ because you want newcomers to have a good time and want to look up the original tracks they heard later.

I did a lot this year and I’m super proud of myself. My followers have grown organically and I’ve been focused on posting interesting content that you all have been letting me know you enjoy. I actually met fans of my blog for the first time at various events this year and you each made me feel so special. I’m still doing exactly what I want with my blog and that makes me super happy. My opinions will always be mine and will never be changed for any price! 

2017 is going to be a great year. I hope to explore some new festivals, stumble upon some new artists, and make lots of new friends. Thanks for being on this 2016 adventure with me, and cheers to 2017!